The Land Trust Alliance has a nice article about 15 ranches protected by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) and several partner organizations. Over the past decade, 15 ranchland conservation easements have protected more than 11,000 acres. “This ranch means a great deal to our family and we are committed to raising our kids [...]
Yesterday I received the following note from the owner of a North Carolina farm protected with a conservation easement: “Can the state’s power of eminent domain be used to build a highway across conserved land? We are worried about the possibility of a 4-land highway through our conserved land.” Hers is a great question. I answered “From what [...]
“Preserving forests in an urban world” is a good article to help planners preserve forests in urban and suburban areas. Conservation subdivisions are mentioned as a tool to protect forests and habitat: Conservation subdivisions aim to keep 50-70 percent of a development as open space. These special subdivisions can reduce infrastructure costs for developers and [...]
What is a Conservation Easement (aka “land preservation agreement”)? A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency. It permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. The landowner continues to own the land and the easement does “run with the [...]
I like Randall Arendt’s approach to conservation subdivisions: “Do It Backward”. First, set aside land for conservation. This eliminates the left-over conservation areas that are traditionally created. Last, divide up the land into parcels. This allows the developer to penpoint the prime developable area, while maintaining conservation areas. According to Randall Arendt, “The term ‘conventionally designed [...]
